Best Breakout Bands of the Year

Deadwood Saints:
I once wrote in an album review for The Deadwood Saints that “it feels like coming home,” and I stand by that statement completely. There are a lot of folk/bluegrass/Americana bands in Colorado, but The Deadwood Saints set themselves apart with an amazing sound that can only be described as “beard-folk.” Their music wraps you up in its arms and never lets you go. They recently released their first full-length album and Fort Collins has welcomed it with open arms and raving reviews.
 
Slow Caves:
Since the release of their EP this summer, Slow Caves has been a force in Fort Collins. This synth-punk band will be ruling Fort Collins soon. Their EP is full of amazingly catchy songs that make it impossible not to dance. Slow Caves has so much energy on and off stage, they draw you in with their high-energy rock and personalities. They have recently released a Halloween single and hopefully we can expect a full-length album soon.
 
Rawtune:
Banana guns, Billy the kid and awesome reggae, Fort Collins’ newest reggae band is quickly making a name for themselves. Rawtune describes themselves as “raw and rotten dudes” which is largely reflected in their music. They take classic reggae/rock and add their own flair to it. Their first album Pull the Trigger was released at the beginning of this year and has catapulted them into Fort Collins fame. Although the boys don’t take themselves too seriously, their music is seriously amazing.
 
Rich With Friends:
This is more than just another bluegrass band in Fort Collins; Rich with Friends creates a new bluegrass sound with a twist of rock n’ roll. Each band member brings a different musical background to the band that comes together in perfect harmony that they describe as “creative chemistry.” Although the band lineup has changed throughout the years, the current lineup is the perfect match. They all interact more like old friends rather than new band mates and it shows in their music.
 
Jaden Carlson Band
Jaden is small but mighty. Her vocals are amazingly smooth and perfect for their genre. This trio is going to take over Fort Collins soon enough. They blend rock, jazz and funk into one perfect combination of toe- tapping rock n’ roll. They have played countless shows this year and have been gaining notoriety all over Colorado. They say age is just a number and that rings true for the Jaden Carlson Band; you can’t put an age limit on rock n’ roll.
 
Born To Wander
Debuting their first album earlier this year, they have changed the way that Colorado thinks about jazz. This band hails from Denver and is slowly gaining notoriety all over Colorado. This band is a blast from the past; they mix classic jazz sounds and scatting with their own personal touch. Their sound is like velvet to your ears. It is hard not to fall in love with the smooth sounds of this band, no matter what your musical preferences are.
 
Whisper Wolf
Despite having just gotten together this year, I expect great things from Whisper Wolf. The first time I saw them perform was at the Fresh Talent Showcase and it was well deserved that they were there, they are such a fantastic new band. They take classic emo/punk and make it their own. Their album Death is reminiscent of early 2000s punk bands. They do mimic that style, but they add their own flair into their music that makes it very accessible for a 2015 audience.
 
Genetics
This band is so full of energy off the stage they are hard to ignore. Once they are on stage that energy transfers to their music and fills the crowd. They are originally from Michigan but have quickly made Fort Collins their home, playing at the Arise music festival and having a residency at the Aggie in October. Their jam band style is well received in Fort Collins. They continue to gain a larger and larger fan base. This band might join the list of bands that have made it big from Fort Collins sooner than you think.